I think my idea is good, but characters are where it's at. I could have an incredible idea but if the reader doesn't care about the people involved, then it's worthless. As you might already know from here, I'm a huge LOST fan, so I'm very aware the importance of character development.

I'm going the science fiction route with this story. Nothing whacky like Star Wars, but a little more real... in the LOST mold.

How much did you guys have planned out before you sat down and started writing? Did you create an outline? Or just a few paragraphs for the plot, and then fill in the details in your 200 pages? Did you come up with character names, personalities, backgrounds, etc. beforehand? Or did you make it up as you went along?

Rule #1 - Don't tell anyone you're writing a book. If you never publish it, or never even finish it, that's all people will ask about.

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This. I've completed a first novel (68,000 words), although it probably could use some revisions. I haven't told anyone about it yet, although I really haven't gotten myself geared up to send out proposal letters to agents yet. I don't really want to tell anyone (family or friends) about it because I don't want them to think, "Oh, Baron's just trying some new fad of being an author. That'll last five minutes." Instead, I've been working on a second novel ( I'm up to about 5,000 words). I guess someday, I'll send out the proposal letters, and hope that an agent calls, and my wife will be wondering what the heck I've been doing while she's asleep.

What I've done is just basically write. Sounds simple and nutty. But I just sit in front of the computer and put down what comes to mind.

Interesting insight at the end of John Irving's latest, Last Night in Twisted River
He describes his writing process, which is essentially back to front. Needs to write the last sentence first.
Also, how he'll write a sentence that he likes and then will find a spot for it somewhere in the book.